Device for automatically lifting and supporting automobiles and other vehicles.



T. H. SPARKS.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING AND SUPPORTING AUTOMOBILES AND OTHERVEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, I913.

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T T. H. SPARKS.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIP'I'ING AND SUPPORTING AUTOMOBILES AND OTHERVEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1913.

1,081,165. Patented Dec.9,1913.

I N 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPn C0,, WASHINGTON v. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. SPARKS, 0F WICI-IITA, KANSAS.

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY LIFTING- AND SUPPORTING AUTOMOBILES AND OTHERVEHICLES.

memes.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. SPARKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at l Vichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forAutomatically Lifting and Supporting Automobiles and other Vehicles; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devicesfor use in raising automobiles and other vehicles and 't has for itsobject the provision of a simple, inexpensive and practical device ofthis character in which the vehicle is moved up ward over inclined waysor tracks a suffi cient distance above a horizontal plane as to permitthe wheels to be freely rotated or removed from the axle, if desired,for the purpose of repair, and in the provision of means whereby theinclined tracks will be automatically dropped from beneath the wheelswhen the vehicle reaches its proper position, the weight of the vehiclebeing suspended upon horizontal timbers or supports beneath the axles.

An essential object of the invention resides in the provision of meanswhereby the weight of an automobile or other vehicle provided withpneumatic tires may be automatically transferred from the wheels tosupporting timbers beneath the axles, thereby relieving the tires fromthe necessity of supporting the vehicle while the same is in the garage.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the sameconsists in the novel construction, peculiar arrange ment, combinationand adaptation of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafterdescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specificallydefined in the ap pended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which,with the reference characters marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a deviceSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 3, 1913.

Patented Dec. 9,1913. Serial No. 777,363.

constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof the same. Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4: is a verticallongitudinal section of the device.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings, 1 represents theplatform or floor, and 2, 2 are short inclined tracks secured to theplatform at the opposite edges thereof, said tracks being inclinedupward at a slight angle adjacent to one end of the platform.

3, 3 are tracks having hinged connection at their rear ends with thetransverse timbers l and at their forward ends pivotally connected witha transverse rod K, which rod is ournaled at its ends within the lowerends of the links H, the upper ends of which links are provided withjournals for the outer ends of the crank lever Gr.

8, 8 are two parallel timbers disposed between the tracks 3, 3 uponopposite sides of the platform, said timbers being pivoted atsubstantially their longitudinal centers upon the pins provided in postsor standards 7 rising from the cross timber l, while at their forwardends said beams or timbers 8 are vertically movable within slots 9provided in the uprights 9 and at their opposite ends the said timbersare provided with pivoted supports or legs 9*, which supports areadapted, when not in use, to be folded back against the upper faces ofthe stops or pins 9 projecting from the side faces of the timbers.

10, 10 are inclined bracing timbers connecting the base portion L withthe uprights 7.

F is a standard having pivotal connection at its lower end with theinner face of the base portion L and its free upper end being pivotallyconnected with a short lateral arm or lever F, said lever being providedwith an open U or hook-shaped portion F to receive the centrallydisposed member G of the crank arm when the same is thrown upward. Akeeper P upon the base portion L serves to limit the movement of thesaid standard F, as will be readily understood.

J is a bumper secured to and carried by the pivoted standard andextending rearwardly therefrom.

To operate the device, the crank lever G is raised a trifle past thevertical or upright position, thus allowing the c alike to pass thecenter far enough to insure the lever falling forward by gravity and,when in this position, the crank lever G will be received between prongsf of the hook carried by the forward end of the link F. A spring bumper2 is provided to compensate for the blow imparted to the device bydownward movement of the arm G of the crank lever. It will be notedthat, when the lever G is pushed back over the center, this movementwill serve to unlock the pivoted track and permit the same to fall, thusleaving the machine supported upon the beams 8, 8 with the axles restingthereon. The axles at a, a being farther removed from the fulcrum C, themachine raises itself automatically because of this unbalanced position.T 0 remove the machine, it is simply necessary to turn the rearsupports, raise the trip F and turn the wheels on the trip lever E whichwill allow the lever G to return to its normal position, which serves tothrow the weight of the machine again upon its wheels. After removingthe vehicle, the trip is turned downward so as to engage the lever G.The rear ends of the beams 8 being free automatically adjustthemselvesto the receiving position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new is 1. Incombination with pivoted vehicle supporting timbers, inclined tracks,bell crank lever mechanism connected with the tracks, a trip leverpivotally connected with the bell crank lever, a bumper carried by thetrip lever and adapted, by contact with the vehicle, to automaticallylower the tracks and transfer the weight of the vehicle to the vehiclesupporting timbers, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination with pivotedvehicle supporting timbers, pivoted tracks, fixed inclined tracks uponopposite sides of said timbers, track sections having hinge connectionat their rear ends with the fixed tracks and at their opposite endsconnected to a crank lever, a trip lever pivoted at its lower end to thesupport of the crank lever, a tripping arm pivotally connected at oneend with the upper end of the said lever and its opposite end providedwith a U-shaped hook or keeper to receive the arm of the crank leverwhen elevated, and a bumper connected with the trip lever, substantiallyas shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS H. SPARKS.

"Witnesses E. E. BLECTLEY, WM. CARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

